Thirty days of reckoning

Museum of Science goes craaazy for Earth Month

By JOSH ELMETS + ALYSON SHEPPARD

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Global warming is the new terrorism — everybody loves to hate it. Yet it's with good reason, especially when the fate of our planet is at stake. In celebration of April as national Earth Month, the Museum of Science hosts a series of special films, programs and exhibits addressing energy, technology, health and environmental issues to further illustrate mankind's destructive impact on our suckling Mother Earth.

"Earth Month activities are designed to engage people of all ages in developing the essential scientific thinking and engineering skills they need to thrive, while also supporting Earth's ability to sustain life," David Rabkin, the museum's vice president of innovation, strategic partnerships and sustainability, stated in a press release.

For the artsy visitor, the MOS debuts the Robert Redford-narrated (and, for better or worse, Dave Matthews Band-soundtracked) Omni film Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk, and the new aerial photograph exhibit Double Exposure: Photographing Global Climate Change. For the errant burning, do-gooder wallet, the gift shop purveys earth-friendly souvenirs such as picture frames made from recycled magazines crafted by Vietnamese weavers.

Science nerds can hit programs including a nanotechnology and alternative energy forum, an address on climate change by renowned environmentalist James J. McCarthy, a walking audio tour of green buildings in Boston and a hands-on exhibit to design and test wind and solar energy prototypes.

And finally, impressionable children can take a course on growing seeds or reducing pollution. If this proves too difficult, they can explore an exhibit of 26 species of lizards and snakes, which will all ostensibly go extinct—unless the kids and their SUVs wisen up.

[Museum of Science, Science Park, Boston. 617.723.2500. mos.org]